14 Simple Ways to Save Water At Home

Conserving water doesn’t have to be difficult, time-consuming, or inconvenient! Here are 14 easy ways to save water at home just by making a few simple daily changes…

The summer heat has many areas of the U.S. feeling parched, and in some cities, water usage may be restricted. Even if you’re not in one of these areas, water is a precious resource that should be used responsibly. Fortunately, finding ways to save water at home is surprisingly easy. Just by paying attention to your water usage throughout your day, you will notice areas where you can reduce how much water you are using – without any inconvenience or any major changes in your daily routine.

Here are 14 simple ways to save water at home:

1. Turn Off Water While Brushing Your Teeth – Standing there while you’re brushing your teeth allowing the water to just run down the drain is a huge waste of water that accomplishes nothing. Turn it off, brush, and then turn it back on to rinse.

2. Catch Cold Water for Plants When Waiting for the Hot – If you need hot water and notice that it takes a while to get to hot, grab a container and catch the cold water. You can use it for your house plants, potted outdoor plants, or your pets.

3. Catch Rain Water for Watering Plants – A great way to cut down on your water usage is to catch rain water and rain runoff from gutters to use for watering your plants or garden.

4. Take Showers instead of Baths – Believe it or not, a shower can save quite a bit more water than a bath. Filling a tub uses more water than you need. If you really love a nice, hot bath, save it for special occasions and shower most of the time.

5. Turn Off Water While Soaping Up – In the shower, get your body wet, and then turn the water off while you soap up. Try keeping your showers to a maximum of five minutes to save the most water and still get clean.

6. Plant More Edibles and Less Grass – Lawns use a lot of water. If it’s not against the rules where you live, try growing only useful plants that you can eat in as much of your yard as possible. You will save water and live more sustainably by providing some of your own food!

7. Don’t Flush Urine – You’ve heard it said, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down.” Flushing the toilet – especially older, less efficient models, can use a lot of water. Try flushing only every-other time you use the bathroom. You’ll cut your water usage from the toilet in half.

8. Mulch Plants Properly to Retain Water – Using natural mulch in your garden and outdoor areas will help conserve moisture and you won’t need to water as often. It will also keep your soil and your plants healthier, and reduce weeds.

9. Prune Plants and Trees Wisely – When growing shrubs or trees, if you prune them and compost the parts that you don’t need, you will cut down on the amount of water each plant needs.

10. Fill the Dishwasher All the Way before Running – Try not to run the dishwasher if it’s not a full load. Most dishwashers have a rinse cycle so that you can avoid food sticking while using less water; this is more frugal than washing an almost empty load. You can also rinse dishes briefly by hand using the sprayer nozzle at your sink before loading them in the dishwasher. This will efficiently remove food particles without using much water.

11. Fill the Washing Machine All the Way before Running – When you are washing clothing, if you don’t have one of the new high-efficiency washers that weighs the clothing to determine water level, wait until you have a full load before washing.

12. Use Leftover Cooking Water – When you boil noodles or steam veggies, that water can be saved and used to create flavorful soups. Put these liquids in freezer-safe containers and freeze them – then just pop them out for a tasty broth the next time you make soup.

13. Fix Leaky Faucets Immediately – If you have a drip, don’t wait; fix it as soon as possible. One drippy faucet can waste gallons of water before you know it, even if you think the drip is small!

14. Measure Sprinkler Output – You only need a certain amount of water for each type of plant, and it’s easy to over- or under-water. If you measure to find out how much water your sprinkler is putting out, and adjust the hose output accordingly, you’ll be less likely to waste water.

Conserving water can be easier than you expected. Thinking of ways to wash your car, do your laundry, and live without wasting water unnecessarily will make you feel good about yourself and help protect our valuable water resources.